Soda-fountain



No. 612,033. Patented Oct. n, I898.

n. m. GREEN.

SODA FDUNTAIN.

(Application filed Feb. 9, 1897.)

m Model.)

WITNESSES @Q fg ATTORNEY.

NITED STATES I PATENT Erica. 1

SODA-FOU NTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,033, dated October 11, 1898. Application filed February 9, 1897. Serial No. 622,591. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoBERT M. GREEN, a citizen of the United 'States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Soda-Fountains, which improvement is fully set'forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention is applicable to that class of soda-fountains wherein a syrup-can, either of the upright or horizontal pattern, may be withdrawn for filling or cleaning through an aperture provided for that purpose in the front of the fountain.

The invention consists more particularly of a covering-plate or lid for said aperture pro vided with inexpensive means for attaching the same to and detaching'it'from the casing of a soda-fountain, whereby said coveringplate may be easily removed to uncover said aperture and afterward conveniently restored to position, thus operating to close the same when the syrup-can chamber is vacantor when the cans are in position therein, said covering-plate being Without hinges or'knuc kles as such on its exposed or outer face and serving to close the joint at the bottom of the casing, the means for attaching said plate with said casing consisting of an elbow-shaped hook one limb of which serves to support the plate when in upright position, and the other limb enters an opening and serves, owing to its tapering shape, to draw the plate closelyto the casing and retain it tightly thereagainst. Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the portion of a soda-fountain embodying my invention with two of a series of separate or independent apertures in communication with the can-chamber of the fountain, one of the apertures beingshown closed and the other opened, the covering-plate of the latter portion ofthe casin g of a soda-fountain having an aperture in communication with the canchamber thereof, and B designates a syrupcan therein.

0 designates the discharge valve or cook of the can, and D the plug of the same, having the bifurcated or grooved head on the outer end thereof, the same being adapted to receive the tongue or key E, which is formed with or attached to the stem H, the latter be ing suitably mounted int-he covering-plate J and provided with a handle K, whereby when the plate is in closed position the tongue E occupies the head D, so'that by the operation of the handle K the valve or cook may be opened or closed, and when the plate is removed said tongue is disconnected from the head D, which features of themselves form for preventing improper opening ofsaid plate,

which in this instance consists of the latch N, with a knob or button P-for operating the same. When, however, said catch is released from its keeper, the covering-plate may be opened, it turning to some extent on the floor Q, the hooks M emerging from the openings L, after which they are withdrawn fromsaid openings, thus disconnecting the coveringplate from" the fountain, and consequently from the valve or cook of the can, whereby access maybe hadto the latter in order to withdraw it for any purpose requiring the same. As the covering-plate is portable in its nature it may now be laid aside, as shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to close the aperture, the covering-plateis applied in position and the hooks M directed into the openings L, after which the covering-plate is turned inwardly or toward the can, and when completely closed the catch N is turned, thus preventing outward motion of the coveringplate.

The hooks M are of elbow form, the horizontal limbs or portionsof which form the fulcrum of the plate J in the opening andclosing motions of the latter, and when said plate is in upright or closed position it rests on said horizontal limbs, while the vertical limbs of the hooks engage with the walls of the openings L and draw said plate close to the casing, said plate covering the bottom joint of the plate and casing and concealing the hooks M, it being also noticed that the plate has neither knuckles nor hinges as such on its outer face, the advantages of which are evident.

lVhile the foregoing description relates to a single can and its adjuncts, it will of course be obvious that the invention is applicable to a series of cans.

As far as I am aware the closing of a syrupcan aperture by means of any kind of aportable flap or plate detachably connected with or mounted upon the casing is entirely new, and I therefore reserve to myself the right to make such changes as will come within the spirit of my invention and to apply or adapt the same to a soda-fountain having either upright or horizontal cans.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a soda-fountain, a casing with a detachable hinged covering-plate for the front extending from the top to the bottom thereof and having mounted thereon a faucet having a tongue adapted to be connected with a valvestem within said casing, the hinge of said plate consisting of a hook thereon, and an opening in the adjacent wall, said hook serving to support said plate and tighten the same against said wall.

2. In a soda-water apparatus, having an aperture in one of the walls of the casing thereof, the combination with the can-chamberand an upright or horizontal can having a valvecontrolled outlet, and adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from said canchamber through said aperture, of a removable covering-plate or lid for said aperture, and a hinge therefor formed of detachable parts, whereby the covering-plate when opened is automatically disconnected from its support, 'said hinge consisting of a tightening-hook on the covering-plate, and an opening in the adjacent wall of the casing.

3. In a soda-water apparatus, having an aperture in one of the walls of the casing thereof, the combination with the can-chamber and an upright or horizontal can having a valvecontrolled outlet, and adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from said can-chamber through said aperture, of a removable covering-plate or lid for said aperture, with means for lockin g and holding said covering-plate in operative or upright position, said means c011- sisting of a tapering hook on the coveringplate, and an opening in the adjacent wall of the casing.

4. In a soda-water apparatus, having an aperture in one of the walls of the casing thereof,the combination with the can-chamber, and an upright or horizontal can having a valvecontrolled outlet, and adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from said chamber through said aperture, of a removable covering-plate or lid for said aperture, provided with a hook or hooks adapted to freely enter an opening or openings in one of the walls of said aperture,and retain the covering-plate in position, said hook being of elbow shape, the horizontal limb of which is mounted on the adjacent wall of the casin g, and the vertical limb of which is tapering and enters an opening in said wall and serves to draw the plate close to said wall,

the hook supporting said plate.

5. I11 a soda-water apparatus, having an aperture in one of the walls of the casing thereof,the combination with the can-chamber, and an upright or horizontal can having a cock at the bottom thereof, and adapted to be inserted in and Withdrawn from said can-chamber through said aperture, of a removable covering-plate or lid for said aperture provided with a hook or hooks adapted to freely enter an opening or openings in one of the walls of said aperture, and having a tongue or key mounted thereon for detachably connecting the plug of the cock of said j a1 with its operating-handle, and means for holding the plate in closed condition, said hook being adapted to support said plate on said wall, and draw the plate tightly thereagainst.

ROBERT M. GREEN.

\Vitnesses:

N. B. WILEY, A. S. GELSTON. 

